The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for faster, more inclusive global action to tackle hunger and malnutrition.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General  stressed the need for urgent and united efforts to address the uneven progress being made.

This year’s SOFI report was presented for the first time in Africa, at an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—a fitting choice as Africa continues to suffer the most from food insecurity.

The 2025 report shows a small global improvement, with hunger rates dropping slightly from 8.5% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024. However, this progress hides major regional differences. Hunger is decreasing in Asia and Latin America but worsening in Africa, where 307 million people—about 20% of the population—are food insecure. It’s predicted that by 2030, Africa will make up nearly 60% of the global population facing chronic hunger.

“Recovery must be inclusive - we cannot accept a future where entire regions are left behind,” said Qu.

The launch event was attended by high-level figures including Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Taye Atske-Selassie, Ethiopia’s President, and Edmondo Cirielli, Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister. Mohammed said: “Knowledge is power. Today’s launch of the SOFI report delivers sobering insights and the power to act,” adding that conflict must give way to cooperation to fix fragile food systems.

The Ethiopian President called the report “a compelling call for action,” saying it provides guidance for both short-term fixes and long-term solutions. Italy’s Cirielli stressed that food security is central not only to diet, but to the well-being of economies, societies, and global health.

The SOFI 2025 report—produced jointly by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO—paints a troubling picture. Since 2020, 90 million more people face hunger, and 100 mn more than in 2015. In 2024, 2.3 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure.

Malnutrition trends are mixed. While child stunting has decreased slightly, wasting has not improved. Anaemia among women aged 15–49 has risen from 27.6% to 30.7%, and adult obesity increased from 12.1% in 2012 to 15.8% in 2022—highlighting the “double burden” of malnutrition.

New indicators in the 2025 report show poor diet diversity: only one-third of young children and two-thirds of women meet the minimum standards. “Much more must be done to expand access to nutritious, diverse diets for all - especially women and children,” Qu said.

As 2.6 bn people still cannot afford a healthy diet, this year’s report also explores food inflation. Since 2020, food prices have risen faster than general inflation, further revealing weaknesses in the food system.

“In the face of global disruptions, protectionist or inward-looking policies are counterproductive. What we need is coordinated global action—based on shared responsibility, solidarity, and sound evidence,” Qu said.

The FAO calls for “urgency, inclusiveness, and action” to ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to nutritious food. “Let us act now—not just with ambition, but with determination—to achieve Zero Hunger, leaving no one behind.”

Africa’s agrifood systems are key to improving food and nutrition security, creating jobs, protecting the environment, and building resilience to climate change.

The new Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan puts food systems transformation at the centre of its efforts.

The Kampala Declaration, which introduced the updated CAADP plan, focuses on speeding up progress. Mayaki, the African Union’s Special Envoy for Food Systems, stresses the need for faster change, warning that progress is too slow. The Food Systems Countdown Report by FAO shows that only 20 of 42 key indicators are heading in the right direction—and none fast enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Transforming food systems is complex. These systems are made up of many moving parts—farmers, traders, processors, governments, civil society, and policies. Rather than thinking of food systems as machines, they can be seen as woven fabrics. “Each thread - farmers, processors, traders, governments, civil society - adds strength, colour, and purpose to the whole. When threads are tangled or frayed, the fabric weakens. When they are aligned, the weave is strong, adaptable, and beautiful" Mayaki added. 

The aim is to strengthen that weave by helping decision-makers act faster and more effectively. To do this, a set of practical tools has been developed over the past eight years in different countries, including eight in Africa. These tools were created with input from hundreds of experts and institutions, many of them African. Leaders are encouraged to adapt and use these tools to make better, more impactful decisions.

The tools include:

Food System Dashboards – Combine data from many sources to identify problems and opportunities, and help target investments.

Policy Coherence Tool – Shows how well different policies support food system goals, avoiding conflicting actions.

Political Economy Assessment Tool – Helps spot political openings for action in real-world contexts.

3FS Tool – Maps public and donor funding to see if spending matches priorities.

Diet Quality Questionnaire – A quick survey to assess diet quality, which gives early warnings of food-related problems.

I-CAN (Climate Action and Nutrition) – Helps align actions on climate and nutrition, useful especially for policymakers and climate leaders.

Food System Countdown Initiative – Tracks progress and supports accountability in system transformation.

These tools can support the design of projects that are fundable, practical, and make a real difference. In a time of rising debt, uncertain trade, and shrinking aid, it’s vital to stay focused and act fast. UNFSS+4 is the right moment to step up and move forward to build strong, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across Africa-for today and generations to come.

As global leaders gather in Zimbabwe for the 15th Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), there is a major opportunity to protect both food security and the environment.

Wetlands, which support global food production and provide many other benefits, are vanishing quickly.

Today’s food systems are under increasing pressure. To meet rising food demand, many wetlands are being drained and water is being overused. These actions may offer short-term solutions, but they damage long-term food productivity. Already, one-third of agricultural land is degraded, and wetlands continue to disappear.

To truly “Protect Wetlands for Our Common Future”—the official COP15 theme—three key actions are needed. First, clear targets should be set for wetland restoration, linked to climate and food security plans. Second, financial incentives should be created to reward farmers and communities for protecting wetlands. Third, wetland protection should be fully included in national policies on development and climate change.

The link between wetlands and agriculture is strong. Wetlands provide fish, support millions of livelihoods, supply irrigation water, recharge groundwater, and filter out pollutants. Over 95% of food production depends on healthy water and soil—both of which wetlands help protect.

Beyond farming, wetlands are vital for the climate. Peatlands, a type of wetland, hold more carbon per acre than any other ecosystem. Though they cover just 3% of the Earth's surface, they store 30% of all soil carbon. When looked after, they absorb carbon. When drained or burned, they release large amounts of CO₂ and methane.

Wetlands also help prevent disasters. They reduce flood risks, store water during dry periods, and provide 75% of the world’s accessible freshwater. But despite their huge value, the people who protect wetlands often receive nothing in return, while those who destroy them profit.

Currently, only 0.25% of global wealth goes to nature protection. Yet wetlands offer trillions in benefits. Restoring and protecting them would cost about US$275–550bn—just 0.5% of the world economy. With the right support, farmers could be paid for the services their wetlands provide, such as carbon storage and clean water.

These finance systems must work for countries at all stages of development. Local training and sharing of technology are key. It is also more cost-effective to protect healthy wetlands than to fix damaged ones.

The goal is to make wetland protection rewarding and achievable for farmers and communities. This needs systems to track progress, measure results, and share success stories.

We already know what works. In Asia, water-saving rice farming protects wetlands. In Europe, constructed wetlands clean farm water and support wildlife. Practices like reduced tilling and tree planting also help.

With climate change and food demands rising, wetlands must be part of the solution. The time to act is now.